Lexi Bainas

Lively classic rock is on the menu at Osborne Bay Pub as 5 Whiskeys Deep hits the pub stage on Saturday, Jan. 18. (Submitted)

Osborne Bay Pub kicks off 2020 with quartet of events

From Cuban baseball to father and son duo: check out the pub for January entertainment

Lively classic rock is on the menu at Osborne Bay Pub as 5 Whiskeys Deep hits the pub stage on Saturday, Jan. 18. (Submitted)
Reserve your seats early for the Arrowsmith Big Band. Their show is a sure sell out. (Submitted)

VIDEO: Top acts lined up for some hot January jazz at Crofton

A trio, a quartet, and a big band means January will be jumping

Reserve your seats early for the Arrowsmith Big Band. Their show is a sure sell out. (Submitted)
New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop is a great favourite with Cowichan Lake families as it winds up the annual Family New Year celebration at Cowichan Lake Sports Arena on Dec. 31. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)

Cowichan Lake finishes 2019, kicks off 2020 with family fun

Balloon drop at arena plus polar bear swim at Lakeview equals a super send-off

New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop is a great favourite with Cowichan Lake families as it winds up the annual Family New Year celebration at Cowichan Lake Sports Arena on Dec. 31. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
Early in the production, members of the cast welcome various members of the audience. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

VIDEO: Classic story of Beauty and the Beast gets full panto treatment in Cowichan

Shawnigan Players lay it on thick in annual holiday season feast of fun

Early in the production, members of the cast welcome various members of the audience. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)
One Cowichan’s Parker Jefferson presents his concerns at a Lake Cowichan town council meeting. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)

VIDEO: Lake Cowichan takes climate change seriously, council tells One Cowichan delegation

Discussion around the need to safeguard Cowichan Lake and River is not new to the council table

One Cowichan’s Parker Jefferson presents his concerns at a Lake Cowichan town council meeting. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
Justin Pambrun, general manager and dealer partner at Island Ford, says a rash of thefts of gas and other items from vehicles is a real headache for the dealership. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

Cowichan Valley car dealerships hit by thefts of gas and more

Drilling and syphoning gas, stealing shocks and converters: car crime is up: dealers say

Justin Pambrun, general manager and dealer partner at Island Ford, says a rash of thefts of gas and other items from vehicles is a real headache for the dealership. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)
The Langley Ukulele kids light up the Duncan Showroom in the first of two shows Dec. 22. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

Langley kids show Duncan crowd that ukuleles can sound classy, even classic

Singing and playing, these young performers from the Lower Mainland present a charming show

The Langley Ukulele kids light up the Duncan Showroom in the first of two shows Dec. 22. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)
It’s time for a Holly Jolly Christmas with Buddy and his friends. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

VIDEO: Buddy Holly and friends light up the Cowichan Theatre

With a great mix of tunes and plenty of holiday spirit, this show delighted huge crowd

It’s time for a Holly Jolly Christmas with Buddy and his friends. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)
James Meyer, centre, shown here performing with a broken arm, starred here in ‘All Shook Up’, as well as ‘How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying’, and ‘The Strange Story of the Dog in the Night Time’ all within the space of a few months in early 2019. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

Lexi Bainas column: Wow! 2019 was quite a year for entertainment in the Cowichan Valley

From blockbuster musicals to Shakespeare under the trees, it was a banner year

James Meyer, centre, shown here performing with a broken arm, starred here in ‘All Shook Up’, as well as ‘How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying’, and ‘The Strange Story of the Dog in the Night Time’ all within the space of a few months in early 2019. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)
Duncan’s Carlow Rush and Nanaimo’s Jacksun Fryer, AKA Funkanometry, passed the duels stage of ‘World of Dance’ March 31, making the first cut. (Submitted)

2019 in Review: Funkanometry takes Islanders to NBC’s ‘World of Dance’

Two talented guys: one from Duncan, one from Nanaimo dance their way to national TV appearance

Duncan’s Carlow Rush and Nanaimo’s Jacksun Fryer, AKA Funkanometry, passed the duels stage of ‘World of Dance’ March 31, making the first cut. (Submitted)
From the first time they were tested in 2016, pumps to move Cowichan Lake water over the weir to the Cowichan River have been forefront in a lot of Valley conversations. (Ed Bonenfant photo)

2019 in Review: Dry February, March forced pumping of water from Cowichan Lake for the first time

Water levels were already low even before the 'dry' season arrived, making situation 'dire'

From the first time they were tested in 2016, pumps to move Cowichan Lake water over the weir to the Cowichan River have been forefront in a lot of Valley conversations. (Ed Bonenfant photo)
Rising star Malakai Robson opens for Eugene Smith as the Duncan Showroom hosts ‘Last Performances of the Decade: A Celebration’ on Dec. 31. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

Lexi Bainas column: Family outings and year-end celebrations: we’re winding down 2019

The rush and fuss of Christmas is over, and you've probably hit every mall and Boxing Day sale that you'll ever want so why not give those artistic tendencies a bit of room to move?

Rising star Malakai Robson opens for Eugene Smith as the Duncan Showroom hosts ‘Last Performances of the Decade: A Celebration’ on Dec. 31. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)
Corb Lund is a popular performer with Cowichan Valley country music fans. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

VIDEO: Cowichan Theatre offering full menu of tasty treats in 2020

Ashley Foot, the new theatre marketing specialist for the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre sent us a stocking stuffer by email this week: the first draft of the 2020 brochure.

Corb Lund is a popular performer with Cowichan Valley country music fans. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)
European gypsy moths (note the feather-like antennae) are an invasive species in North America, but the province is attempting to keep them from getting a foothold in B.C. by spraying for the moths in various parts of the province, including Lake Cowichan. (Photo by Marian Goldsmith/Used Under Common License)

Aerial spraying planned to prevent gyspy moth problem at Lake Cowichan

Invasive insects can travel widely, and cause significant damage: province

European gypsy moths (note the feather-like antennae) are an invasive species in North America, but the province is attempting to keep them from getting a foothold in B.C. by spraying for the moths in various parts of the province, including Lake Cowichan. (Photo by Marian Goldsmith/Used Under Common License)
The Langley Ukulele Ensemble are performing two concerts at the Duncan Showroom on Sunday, Dec. 22. (Jennifer Love photo)

VIDEO: Talented youth group presents pair of Duncan concerts this Sunday

Plenty to enjoy as these young players and singers perform twice at the Duncan Showroom

The Langley Ukulele Ensemble are performing two concerts at the Duncan Showroom on Sunday, Dec. 22. (Jennifer Love photo)
‘Which one of you is my dad?’ asks Sophie (Veronica Meyer) as she confronts Harry (Grant Mellemstrand), Sam (Graham Brockley), and Bill (Aiden Holt) with the all-important question. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

LEXI BAINAS COLUMN: Get those ‘Mamma Mia!’ vouchers now, plus a bonanza of holiday treats from the Showroom

Lots of performers enjoy dropping by the Showroom for Longevity John Falkner's unusual events

‘Which one of you is my dad?’ asks Sophie (Veronica Meyer) as she confronts Harry (Grant Mellemstrand), Sam (Graham Brockley), and Bill (Aiden Holt) with the all-important question. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)
When Canadian country charmer Madeline Merlo was at Sunfest a couple of years ago, she was such a crowd pleaser that she’s been invited back for 2020. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen file)

Dallas Smith, Madeline Merlo lead ‘second wave’ of artists at Sunfest 2020

Keith Urban will be joined on the big stage by a host of great acts, some well known to Sunfesters

When Canadian country charmer Madeline Merlo was at Sunfest a couple of years ago, she was such a crowd pleaser that she’s been invited back for 2020. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen file)
Some of the cast of the Shawnigan Lake Players’ panto, Beauty and the Beast, have fun at a rehearsal. (submitted)

Get your panto tickets now, or ‘Beauty and the Beast’ may slip away from you

Shawnigan Players' annual Christmas pantomime hits stage Dec. 26-31

Some of the cast of the Shawnigan Lake Players’ panto, Beauty and the Beast, have fun at a rehearsal. (submitted)
You can get 30 per cent off tickets for the 2020 version of the Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival right now, just in time for Christmas gift giving. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen file)
You can get 30 per cent off tickets for the 2020 version of the Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival right now, just in time for Christmas gift giving. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen file)
Pampas grass planted in the medians at Lake Cowichan’s entrance needs to go to improve driver safety, mayor says. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)

Cut down pampas grass on medians for road safety? Council’s looking at it

Neva Road derelict house is finally demolished

Pampas grass planted in the medians at Lake Cowichan’s entrance needs to go to improve driver safety, mayor says. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)